Post date: Jan 13, 2013 2:52:37 PM
Members of Ukrainian feminist group Femen go topless in St. Peter's Square in protest against the Vatican's stance on homosexuality as the Pope delivers his weekly Angelus prayers.
VATICAN CITY (JANUARY 13, 2013) (REUTERS) - Four activists from the Ukrainian women's rights group Femen staged a loud topless protest in St. Peter's Square on Sunday (January 13) while Pope Benedict XVIwas conducting the traditional weekly Angelus prayer.
Arriving at the site the four women quickly stripped off their shirts to reveal the words 'In Gay we Trust' painted on their bare chests and started screaming 'Shut Up!' as the Pope was speaking to the crowds of pilgrims gathered to view him at the window of his private apartment overlooking the square.The protest was quickly interrupted by Italian police who after a struggle managed to carry away the four protesters.
Most in the crowds looked on in shock, but one woman in was so enraged by the topless protesters she took to hitting one with her umbrella as she called them: "Devilish and diabolical."
Activist leader Inna Shevchenko told Reuters the group had a specific message it wanted to deliver to the Vatican during its demonstration against homophobia.
"Today we go with a message to the Pope to shut up his mouth and not to give his advices to those people who decide to legalise gay marriage. Today we are here to protest against homophobia," said Shevchenko.
The Vatican has become increasingly vocal against gay marriage and adoptions in recent months. The pope strongly reaffirmed the Church's opposition to gay marriage in December, saying heterosexual marriage had an indispensable role in society.
The Vatican newspaper on Sunday stressed that children should be raised by a father and a mother after Italy's top appeals court granted a gay mother custody of her son, prompting a debate over gay adoption.
Pope Benedict did not seem to notice the rather unusual skirmish under his window.